Electric signal apparatus



F. A. PURCELL.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPUCATICN FILED MAY 8, 1920.

1,354,337, A Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

G //5 3J7 1 16mm? I N VEN TOR.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS A. PURCELL, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

Application filed May 8, 1920. Serial No. 379,957.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. PURCELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Electric Signal Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an electric signal apparatus particularly designedfor" use on automobiles.

One object of the invention is to provide a simplified, inexpensive and more eflicient illuminable apparatus.

A very important object is to produce a device of this nature having an indicator capable of illumination, in contrasting colors in order that the direction indicated will be readily apparent and to provide in connection with an indicator adapted to be illuminated, shade or confining means to cooperate with the signals so that although lighted they may function effectively in da time as well as in darkness.

till another object is to provide an indicator of this type capable of practically universal use and attachment to various makes of automobiles and trucks through the use of a minimum number of brackets or equivalent means.

With the above a'nd additional objects such as will hereinafter appear, in View, the invention has been embodied in one pre ferred form as illustrated in accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the signal apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in end elevation and partly broken away, showing apparatus attached to a mud guard or fender;

Fig. at is a plan view of one of the glass panels employed;

ig. 5 is a side elevation of an attaching bracket which may be used. and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another form of attaching bracket -which may be employed.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate ike or corresponding parts, a suitably shaped box, preferably metallic, is provided at A. This box may have its bottom 7, ends 6 and sides 8 formed integral and its cover 9 made separate therefrom. The parts of the box A referred to may be made separate if desired, and secured together in any suitable way. Cover 9 may be fastened in place by any approved means, for instance by a plurallty of removable bolts 10.

In each side 8, arrowor other shaped slots 11 may be provided, one of them preferably having its head pointing downward, another having its head pointing to the right and the third one having its head pointing to the left. Suitablyand preferably slidably mounted in the rear of and against each wall 8 is a transparent panel 12. preferably of glass, which is adapted to particularly cover the slots 11. These panels for the most part are preferably colored red but they have portions 13 col'ored green or otherwise in contrasting relation to the other color of the panel. These portions 13, it will be noted, are disposed at the ends of the slots 11 opposite to the arrow heads.

Within the box A a vertical partition 14 is provided inorder to form a signal chamber B. Also, a horizontal partition 15 is secured to one of the end walls 6 and to the partition 14 in order to produce signaling compartments C and D. Bolts 10 may pass through the'partition 15 to assist in rigidly mounting them. In each of the compartments B, C, and D, an electric lamp or bulb 16 is located, preferably. being removably secured to sockets 17 mounted by bases 18 secured to suitable parts of the box A. Lamps 16 are adapted to be illuminated from any suitable source of electricity, for instance the storage battery on the automobile upon which the signal is mounted. It is obvious that any suitable system of wiring may be used to attain this end and that it is unnecessary to illustrate it since it forms no part of the present improvement.

Cover 9 along its longitudinal edges is bent downwardly from points 19 in order to form inclined portions or shades 20 which project laterally beyond the sides 8. Since an angle is produced at the'lines 19, the cover may be more readilypositioned upon the box since the u per longitudinal edges of the side 8 will fit the under surface of said cover along the lines 19.

To the ends 6, vertical shades 21 are secured, preferably by means of a flange 22 riveted or otherwise secured in place at 23. Shades 21 are preferably inclined as shown. Adjacent each arrow or slot 11, a. shade 24.- is provided, being secured to the sides 8 in which serves to any suitable way and for instance by means of flanges 25 and rivets 26.

In use, one or more of the devices may be carried by the automobile and two are preferably used, one being located at the front and on the left hand side and the other being located near the rear on the opposite side, with the walls 8 extending at right angles to the path of travel of the automobile so that of'each signal, a wall or side 8 may be read from the front and the other wall or side read from the rear. If the automobile is to stop, the lamp 16 in chamber B is illuminated in order that the panels 12 may 'be'readily observed through the arrow shaped slots 11'. This applies to the vertical arrow and it will be noticed that it is red except at one endwhere a green portion 13 appears to form a contrast so that the head of'the arrow can be more readily observed. The arrow may function effectively even in the daytime, in view of the provisionof shades 20, 21, and the vertical shade 24,

darken it. If the automobile is to make a turn to the right or left, the proper chamber D or C is illuminated so that the arrows therefor will function in the same manner as the vertical arrow, in combination with the shades 20, 21 and 24. It is understood of course that the lamps 16 are lighted separately and independently since the arrows signal separately and independently.

Any preferred means may be used to secure the devices in place, for instance brackets E. Secured to the bottom of the box A, are a plurality of bars 27 through which bolts 28 may pass to secure the same to bars 29 of the brackets E. A leather or other suitable gasket strip may be interposed between the bars 27 and 29. Depending from bars 29 are struts 30 which position an arcuate band or bar 31, which is shaped to conform to that of the automobile fender. Such a fender is suggested at 32 and securing bolts 33 may pass through the bar 31 and the fender, and also through a leather or other strip 34 which may be interposed be.- tween them. This is the construction preferably used 'for attaching the device to front fenders.

When mounting the device on rear fenders, the bracket shown in Fig. 6 is preferably used and it consists of an arcuate portion 35 'arrow adapted to be bolted'or otherwise secured to such fender. Struts 36 project from the part 35 and mount a horizontal arm 37 which is adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to box A in order to mount it.

In instances where the automobile is not provided with fenders, say in the cases of some trucks, the bracket of Fig. 5 is employed. This bracket has a tang or attaching portion 38 adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured beneath the automobile. An arm 39 depends from arm 38 while an arm 40 extends outwardly from arm 39. To the arm 40 the device may be bolted or otherwise secured.

Since merely one preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details falling within the spirit and scope may be made.

I claim:

1. Signaling apparatus having a box provided with a plurality of illuminable signal means in its sidewalls, a cover projecting laterally at an inclined portion to shade said means, partition means within the box to provide independent signal chambers, bolts to secure the cover in place passing through said partition means, said means consisting of arrow shaped slots, a transparent panel behind said slots, said panel at the ends of the-slots opposite to the arrow heads being colored to contrast with the heads, and additional shade means for the signal means extending laterally from the side walls of the box.

2. Signaling apparatus comprising a box a provided with a plurality of illuminable signal means, a cover having laterally projecting, inclined portions to shade said means, said means consisting of arrow-shaped slots, a transparent panel behindsaid slots, said panel at the ends of the slots opposite the heads being colored to contrast with the heads, and additional shade means for the signal means extending laterally from the side walls of the box.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS A. PURCELL.

Witnesses HARRY N. KNETTELL, JOHN J. SPILLER. 

